MANILA, Philippines — Be agents of hope this Christmas.
This was the Christmas message relayed by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula to remind the Catholic faithful that despite the problems they encountered in their lives, they should continue to live with hope because the baby Jesus Christ has been born.
“May the Holy Year of 2025 make us agents of hope and heralds of joy in our communities. I pray for all of you and your families that you may not allow despair and resignation to take away your hope,” Advincula said.
The prelate issued the message of hope as Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve and launched the Jubilee Year 2025 with the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Advincula emphasized that with the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Holy Father wanted the Catholics to restore the climate of hope and trust, for everyone to have new strength and to look into the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and a far-sighted vision.
“In a very dark world we are living in, we do not lose hope because the Star of Bethlehem will light our path and guide us in our journey,” he said.
“The circumstances of the first Christmas were very much like ours today. Our world today is no different. It was filled with lamentations and longings for freedom and redemption. It was dark. It was night. In this darkness, the light has shone and hope was born,” he added.
Jesus was born as a man to make him closer to His people, according to the Manila archbishop.
“Our God is Emmanuel. He is not distant. He is not far away. He has a face. He has a name. He has a family. He is with us. He was born in our midst. He has entered into human history. God the creator of all things, God the all-powerful and almighty, has become so tiny that He could fit in a manger. So helpless and powerless that He could be carried in our arms,” he said.
“According to the ancient fathers of the Church, He is God who ‘abbreviated’ Himself, who made Himself so small that we may no longer be afraid of Him. This gives us hope. This gives us strength. We are not alone in our journey,” he added.
Inclusivity
Meanwhile, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David called for inclusivity and unity this Christmas.
In his homily during the late evening Christmas Eve mass at the Kalookan Cathedral last Tuesday, David emphasized that Christmas is a time for people to break down barriers that divide them.
“Christmas invites us to open our hearts and minds, not just our homes, to welcome God through our hospitality toward one another,” he said in Filipino.
“We will not have peace on Earth until we learn to tear down the walls of division and conflict based on color, religion, race, gender or socio-economic status, etc.,” he added.
David noted that even Pope Francis has urged everyone to practice inclusivity.
In considering who should be welcomed into the Church, the Holy Father would say “todos,” meaning, everyone.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday commended the Filipino people’s resilience amid a series of tropical cyclones that hit the country this year.
“As we reflect on the challenges we faced in 2024, including the numerous natural calamities that battered our nation, we also celebrate the resilience and unity of the Filipino people,” Escudero said in his Christmas message.
The Philippines was hit by six tropical cyclones – Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Super Typhoon Leon, Typhoons Marce and Nika, and Super Typhoons Ofel and Pepito – in a month, from late October to mid-November, displacing thousands of people and killing others in their paths.
Escudero said the Filipino people emerged stronger after the consecutive tropical cyclones, which are becoming stronger and more frequent due to climate change.
The Senate President prayed for the millions of Filipinos affected by the record number of consecutive tropical cyclones that hit the country just a month before Christmas. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas